Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released water from Narmada river to the desert district of Kutch with the press of a button.
The pumping station located at Samakhiali town of the district with a capacity to pump two crore litre water per day would supply water to urban areas
of Kandla, Gandhidham, Bhachau towns and 70 villages in the first phase, government sources said.

Narmada waters began flowing into the district from the Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia colony in Narmada district via 900 km channel comprising canals and pipelines, the sources said adding that the project cost Rs. 1000 crore.

The project is expected to provide 24 crore litres of water daily to all 945 villages and 10 towns of the district and nearby areas once the project is complete.

Modi thanked the engineers of state water supply board and all those involved in the mammoth project for its quick completion to keep up with the date of commencing the first phase of release of water.

The CM also told the people of the region that his government was committed to provide Narmada waters to each part of the district and would also bring out old documents dating between 1927 to 1932 about Kutch district's right over Sindhu river.

Modi said the facts in these documents would be verified to see if the district has rights over the Sindh river and steps would be taken accordingly.